Way to Russia Talk Lounge

St. Petersburg | Gifts

babie2th — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:10:35 GMT

Oh, and you DEFINITELY should pick up a tea set in St. Petersburg - they can be pricey, but my goodness the quality is great and comparatively the sets are incredibly inexpensive. A wonderful souvenir, I just carried my box on the plane instead of packing it.

Topic Replies: 0

St. Petersburg | RE: stupid things i've heard about russia

babie2th — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:08:38 GMT

Ok so since your questions have been mostly addressed, I'll post some tips that are good to know before going to Russia.

The cops are getting better, but corruption is still an issue. Don't keep your passport with your money, if you get stopped that way they don't see how much money you have on you.

The buses are a good way to travel, and the trains are awesome to hop from city to city.

Don't buy American clothes in Russia - they will be expensive. On that same note, don't wear American brands either, you're more likely to be mugged - because you look rich, not because you look American.

Don't go shopping for clothes if you are overly curvy or short, most of the clothes are for skinny, tall people (like Russians)

Souvenirs are best on the streets, not in the stores. You'll get a better price, and the vendors all speak English.

EVERYONE speaks some English, even if they say they dont understand you. Use some Russian and you'll gain a lot of respect.

As a side note, I went to Russia in 2005, so things might be a little different now - these are more general tips from my experience.

Topic Replies: 5

Russian People | RE: About Marriage in Russia

YellowMelon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:47:24 GMT

RAAAj, WHAT is your fkn problem? Your previous thread got locked for one reason, bringing it up again will only get you banned eventually.

Quote:

You would be better served if you search for a site that specialises in marriage between Russians and foreigners.

We endeavour to specialise in advice on all things related to travel in Russia and stay out of the bride market.

This thread is locked.

Topic Replies: 2

Talk Lounge | RE: Russia: Alternative Oil Strategy

Ender — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:37:08 GMT

Anyway. If I were president I would have started building of a new routes for a gas right after first sign of licking the ass of the USA by Ukrainian president Yuschenko.

Unfortunately our rulers are too lazy. They are quick when it comes to blame U.S. (hey, it's a cheap thing to say a few words into a camera) but they are slow and reluctant when it is necessary to do something really useful for the country.

Topic Replies: 3

Moscow | certificate of capacity of marriage legalisation:how much?

gaijin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:09:42 GMT

Maybe it's not the correct term in English but anyway : In a few days I will get a certificate from my consulate saying that I can get married. Apparently now I need to get it "legalized" in Moscow. The official delay is 5 days, which means I would need to go twice to Moscow. How much would be enough to have this done in a few minutes ? Is it better to pay in rubles, euros or dollars?
Should I put the money in the middle of my passport, before anything, or should I discuss it with the person? I've never done anything like that, so please help.

Thanks in advance!!!

Topic Replies: 0

Transport | RE: Border posts and luggage

DITTRICH — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:10:37 GMT

Kevin,
Don't take it the wrong way!
I was just trying to inject a note of humour into my reply!
I've seen Finns with camper vans going in and out of Russia - no probs.
As long as its all personal stuff and couldn't be regarded as commercial for resale then I doubt the customs would be bothered.
Since I'm guessing you're married to a local girl, let her do the talking if they ask questions. In 2005 I brought in a whole bunch of stuff for the dacha in an estate car.
There is another poster on the forum called LeeLee who is/was living down Rostov-on-Don way. Check out his posts. he always struck me as being a reasonable practical individual full of uselful advice.
Rostov-on-Don by Car+Trailer! I'm jealous! have a good trip.
Les

Topic Replies: 4

Transport | RE: Russia to Alaska through Bering strait: possible?

european — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:06:08 GMT

see e.g. http://www.waytorussia.net/TalkLounge/quote-86724.html

Topic Replies: 1

St. Petersburg | Piter Apartment clean-up?

nyc10009 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:26:40 GMT

Privet! My friend owns an apartment in Piter; near Senaya Pl. She rents it; the previous deadbeat tenants just moved out. It's a mess. The apartment needs cleaning & trash removal. But, she lives in CA I live in NY. Can anyone on the list recommend anyone--or perhaps know anyone--who might be reliable and trustworthy to do this? Her friends live out of the central district and are too busy to help. We'll pay a fair price, but finding someone who is honest and will do a good job--that's the challenge.

... btw, onec it's cleaned up, the apartment will be available for rent. It's a very large apartment. Not completely up to Western standards, but very convenient, elegant, safe and comfortable.

Thanks in advance,

Will
nyc10009@gmail.com

Topic Replies: 0

Moscow | Day trips from Moscow

Ulfen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:49:35 GMT

Hi

Any local companies in Moscow that organize day trips out of Moscow? For instance Vladimir, Suzdal or similar.

Ulf

Topic Replies: 0

Russian Visa Forum | RE: Visa Registration on the Trans-Siberian

romdur — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:28:24 GMT

If you won't stay in any one town for more than 3 days, than you simply don't need to register.

In case you are challenged by any official, keep enough evidence (ticket stubs, receipts, etc.) of your itinerary, to show that you didn't stay 3 days in one spot.

Topic Replies: 1

Russian Visa Forum | Visa Registration on the Trans-Siberian

mills1987 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:09:00 GMT

Hi,

I'm planning to take the Trans-Siberian railway back from Mongolia to Moscow. My aim is to get the visa in Ulaan bataar (Capital of Mongolia) and i have got my letter of invitation sorted. However i am unsure about the technicalities of the 'visa-registration' stamps on a train (which needless to say i'm going to be sleeping on). My letter of invitation only has Moscow down as the cities to be visited, and in truth the time spent there will be pretty short.

So what do i legally have to do?

P.S.sorry if i have missed a similiar thread somewhere else

Topic Replies: 1

Talk Lounge | RE: Russia: Alternative Oil Strategy

mister_wizzz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:28:12 GMT

PIB China = 3500 billion USD
PIB Japan = 4200 billion USD

PIB western Europe = 16 835 billion USD
+ EURO one of the 2 world currency reference.

added the fact that Russia became a G8 member only because of its UE energy supplier status...

I don't think Medvedev will do such stupidity, even if he threat the EU from time to time, but everybody knows it's not serious.
Russia has too much to loose making EU angry.

Topic Replies: 3

Jobs & Lessons | English editor intern (Moscow based) is needed for 2 months

Irina Zhinzhikova — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:20:47 GMT

We have a spot for an English Editor intern in our UBS Moscow office to work in our production team in Research. All backgrounds will be considered. We desire candidates having the right attitude, who are detail oriented, hard working, interested in financial markets, and have strong computer skills (Excel). Only native English speakers will be considered for the position. University students are welcome to apply. This position will greatly enhance one�s knowledge of the Russian equity market and its drivers.

Pls send your application to Careers.Russia@ubs.com with the note "English editor intern"

Topic Replies: 0

Moscow | 4th of July Events?

mutatedjellyfish — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:37:11 GMT

Hey!

I read somewhere that there's usually a 4th of July something or other in some park somewhere. Maybe the embassy was putting it on? Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Just wondering if I'm remembering correctly.

Topic Replies: 0

Way to Russia Feedback | RE: Spam?

UsualSuspect — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:29:18 GMT

Hi Dima,
I'll get on it, give me a few days or so as I wouldn't want to cut the innocent off at the knees.

You may also want to consider the use of generating an on-screen password (that cannot be scraped) for future potential members who join or maybe generating a "response required" email, to protect us from these spam generator bots.

Thanks
Usualsuspect

Topic Replies: 11

Transport | Russia to Alaska through Bering strait: possible?

giobenelab — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:44:58 GMT

Hi,
my name's Giovanni, 2 years ago I used this excellent website to organize my transiberian trip from Moscow to Beijing, but this year with my wife we were thinking of taking it a step further, and we were looking into the possibility of going to alaska leaving from russia and crossing the Bering strait on a fishing boat or ice breaker. does anyone know if that's possible? how easy would it be to organize? is there ship or ferry that does it regularly? do you think it would be feasible or it's just a dream?

thanks a lot

Giovanni

Topic Replies: 1

Russian Visa Forum | RE: Update on San Francisco Consulate

romdur — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:22:12 GMT

slud,

Thanks for the follow-up posting. These are exactly the kinds of details that are so important to know, and can be so hard to find out!

I'm especially impressed by the fee business: I have read $131 in numerous places ever since April, out of the blue a different number!

If Russian travel has taught me anything, it is that nothing will go they way I expect.

Topic Replies: 1

Russian Visa Forum | Update on San Francisco Consulate

slud — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:37:27 GMT

I'm reporting success here. Contrary to what you may read on some websites, continuation forms ARE acceptable, at least in San Francisco. Never mind that they're absolutely necessary, given the very limited number of cells in the printed form, notwithstanding the specific instructions to put only one character in each cell. I couldn't even fit my father's full name into the space provided. Anyway, they accepted my forms, which had 2 pp of continuation for items too large to fit into the allotted space.

The other good news is that they specified that it would be ready in 6 business days for the lower price. This indicates to me that applications are way down, and, indeed, there was only one other person there when I arrived 5 min. before opening. Very different than 4 years ago, when the Visa section lobby was a madhouse.

One piece of bad news. They called me a few hours later to tell me that the fee would be $150, not $131, as is clearly indicated on the site for a double-entry business visa. I was in no mood to argue, so caved in, and got another $38 money order and spent $18 sending it up there by express mail. Getting a Russian visa is ALWAYS an adventure.

Topic Replies: 1

Russian Visa Forum | RE: Help With Private Stay Visa

european — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:19:49 GMT

I guess that form is made especially for US citizens because the US asks a similar form from people to fill out when visiting (or applying for a visa to) the US (DS157). Countries are like children. If one teases the other one, they do do the same back.

Topic Replies: 4

Russian Visa Forum | RE: Help With Private Stay Visa

swp4lfe — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:16:00 GMT

By spy form, I am talking about what is posted on this website from the general visa information where it stats

Effective from not so long ago, American male citizens also need to fill in a very strange paper (called "a supplement to visa application form) to make sure they will not be spying in Russia. It should be presented along with the other documents to paranoid consulate officials. You can see it here (Adobe Acrobat format). See what one person posted to us in response to this sentence in the end of this page.

I never had to fill that form out again. Also I dont like how I have to pay extra because I cant mail my own papers to the Russian Embassy. SO now I have to go through a third party or go to New York and hand deliver them.
_________________
Joe G.

Topic Replies: 4

Way to Russia Feedback | RE: Spam?

WayToRussia — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:36:30 GMT

Hey usualsuspect,

Please, send me a list of their names at dima [at] waytorussia [point] net and i'll make sure our programmers get rid of them all.

thank you!
_________________
This post is only a recommendation and is based on my personal opinion. I'm not liable and not responsible for any consequences. Please, use the information at your own risk.

Was WayToRussia.Net helpful? We will appreciate if you promote our site at your work, among your friends and community!

Topic Replies: 11

Russian Visa Forum | RE: Invitation number on visa?

camarks — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:57:28 GMT

None of my 8 visas has an invitation number on it, so it does not appear to be a problem. However, I just got back from a trip that included a short stay in the formerly closed town of Polyarnye Zori. The hotel staff there did not like my visa, but the reason was never made entirely clear. Once I was able to produce a copy of my invitation, the hotel staff was happy. Take along a copy of your invitation just in case you need this number.
_________________
Chris Marks
Avatar photo taken near Kazan in February 2008

Topic Replies: 1

Jobs & Lessons | Web site promotion

englishrussian — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:07:24 GMT

Im looking to find some freelance website promotion work in St Petersburg, link building , traffic building,ect reasonable rates.
_________________
English guy living in Russia

Topic Replies: 0

Talk Lounge | RE: HELP ME TO STUDY AT RUSSIA

IREN — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:33:39 GMT

What do you mean?
3000-4000 rubles / month:
Just stay?
Or- the cost of education and stay?
_________________
I love the Formula 1

Topic Replies: 1

Talk Lounge | RE: Russia: Alternative Oil Strategy

bonch.bruevich — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:27:13 GMT

Well it's pretty clever idea!
I think you should send your plan to WTO and OPEC immediately.

Topic Replies: 3